Method for hydroponically growing plants that are root-nurtured

ABSTRACT

A method for hydroponically growing plants that are typically root-nurtured includes supplying a fluid to a main body with a top through a fill plug, maintaining the fluid at a pre-determined level in the main body with a top, an entrance end and an exit end by a drain pipe, feeding at least one plant with the fluid, the at least one plant disposed on the main body in a saddle with a top that has a strainer that is in contact with the pre-determined fluid level and returning the fluid to a reservoir from the main body. A second method for hydroponically growing plants that are typically root-nurtured includes supplying a fluid to a main body with a top through a dripper is also provided.

This patent application claims priority to U.S. Provisional ApplicationNo. 60/699,885 filed on Jul. 16, 2005 which was the basis and priorityof U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 11/487,249 filed on Jul.14, 2006, all disclosures of which are incorporated herein by referencein its entirety. The present application is a continuation applicationof U.S. non-provisional application Ser. No. 11/487,249 filed on Jul.14, 2006.

TECHNICAL FIELD & BACKGROUND

The present invention generally relates to the field of hydroponicallygrowing plants that are root-nurtured, primarily without soil by aflowing liquid medium containing nutrients. More specifically, thepresent invention relates to a hydroponics growing method that hasrelatively better water height control and protection against rainwaterintrusion and/or humidity loss. Additionally, the present inventionrequires relatively less solid growing media than other similar methods.The present invention also enables the sprouting of plant seeds,cuttings and the nurturing of seedlings.

The present invention allow the sprouting and nurturing of seedlings,height control of the hydroponics medium or fluid in a grotube, allowbetter sealing of the tubes, allow nutrient addition from below or abovethe plant root system, allow connections between the tubes, provideremovable planter baskets or strainers that use no or lesser amounts ofROCKWOOL slabs or growing blocks and solid growth supports such as claypellets and provide sealing plates that reduce the exchange of moistureout of or into the hydroponics system. The grotube and functionalcomponents are constructed of readily obtainable materials typically PVCor food grade PVC.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The present invention will be described by way of exemplary embodiments,but not limitations, illustrated in the accompanying drawing in whichlike references denote similar elements, and in which:

FIG. 1 illustrates a flowchart of a method for hydroponically growingplants that are root-nurtured, primarily without soil by a flowingliquid medium containing nutrients, in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of a method for hydroponically growingplants that are root-nurtured, primarily without soil by a flowingliquid medium containing nutrients, in accordance with one embodiment ofthe present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ILLUSTRATIVE EMBODIMENTS

Various aspects of the illustrative embodiments will be described usingterms commonly employed by those skilled in the art to convey thesubstance of their work to others skilled in the art. However, it willbe apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention maybe practiced with only some of the described aspects. For purposes ofexplanation, specific numbers, materials and configurations are setforth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the illustrativeembodiments. However, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art thatthe present invention may be practiced without the specific details. Inother instances, well-known features are omitted or simplified in ordernot to obscure the illustrative embodiments.

Various operations will be described as multiple discrete operations, inturn, in a manner that is most helpful in understanding the presentinvention. However, the order of description should not be construed asto imply that these operations are necessarily order dependent. Inparticular, these operations need not be performed in the order ofpresentation.

The phrase “in one embodiment” is used repeatedly. The phrase generallydoes not refer to the same embodiment, however, it may. The terms“comprising”, “having” and “including” are synonymous, unless thecontext dictates otherwise.

FIG. 1 illustrates a flowchart of a method 100 for hydroponicallygrowing plants that are root-nurtured, primarily without soil by aflowing liquid medium containing nutrients, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

The method 100 steps include supplying a fluid to a main body with a topthrough a fill plug 110, maintaining the fluid at a pre-determined levelin the main body with a top, an entrance end and an exit end by a drainpipe 120, feeding at least one plant with the fluid, the at least oneplant disposed on the main body in a saddle with a top that has astrainer that is in contact with the pre-determined fluid level 130 andreturning the fluid to a reservoir from the main body 140.

The step of supplying a fluid to a main body with a top through a fillplug 110 includes utilizing an inlet to add additional fluid to the mainbody is attached on the top of the main body. The inlet can also be adripper or other suitable inlet. The step of maintaining the fluid at apre-determined level in the main body with a top, an entrance end and anexit end by a drain pipe 120 includes closing the main body at theentrance end and the exit end by a pair of end caps to form oneassembled main body. The step of feeding at least one plant with thefluid, the at least one plant disposed on the main body in a saddle witha top that has a strainer that is in contact with the pre-determinedfluid level 130 includes forming a plurality of the main bodies that arejoined serially with at least one connector to form a serial assembly ofthe main bodies. There is a step of returning the fluid to a reservoirfrom the main body 140. A plate that is disposed on the top of thesaddle that reduces water loss from inside the main body. The saddleconnects to the main body or the serial assembly of the main bodies at asuitable port.

FIG. 2 illustrates a flowchart of a method 200 for hydroponicallygrowing plants that are root-nurtured, primarily without soil by aflowing liquid medium containing nutrients, in accordance with oneembodiment of the present invention.

The method 200 steps include supplying a fluid to a main body with a topthrough a dripper 210, maintaining the fluid at a pre-determined levelin the main body with a top, an entrance end and an exit end by a drainpipe 220, feeding at least one plant with the fluid, where the at leastone plant disposed on the main body in a saddle with a top that has astrainer is in contact with the pre-determined fluid level 230 andreturning the fluid to a reservoir from the main body 240.

The step of supplying a fluid to a main body with a top through adripper 210 can be from any suitable fluid source and can includenutrient fluids. The step of maintaining the fluid at a pre-determinedlevel in the main body with a top, an entrance end and an exit end by adrain pipe 220 includes closing the main body at the entrance end andthe exit end by a pair of end caps to form one assembled main body. Thestep of feeding at least one plant with the fluid, the at least oneplant disposed on the main body in a saddle with a top that has astrainer that is in contact with the pre-determined fluid level 230includes forming a plurality of the main bodies that are joined seriallywith at least one connector to form a serial assembly of the mainbodies. The step of returning the fluid to a reservoir from the mainbody 240 includes utilizing a plate that is disposed on the top of thesaddle that reduces water loss from inside the main body to return thefluid to the reservoir to collect the water into the main body. Thesaddle connects to the main body or the serial assembly of the mainbodies at a suitable port.

While the present invention has been related in terms of the foregoingembodiments, those skilled in the art will recognize that the inventionis not limited to the embodiments described. The present invention canbe practiced with modification and alteration within the spirit andscope of the appended claims. Thus, the description is to be regarded asillustrative instead of restrictive on the present invention.

1. A method, comprising: supplying a fluid to a main body with a topthrough a fill plug; maintaining said fluid at a pre-determined level insaid main body with a top, an entrance end and an exit end by a drainpipe; feeding at least one plant with said fluid, said at least oneplant disposed on said main body in a saddle with a top that has astrainer that is in contact with said pre-determined fluid level; andreturning said fluid to a reservoir from said main body.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein an inlet to add additional said fluid tosaid main body is attached on said top of said main body.
 3. The methodaccording to claim 2, wherein said inlet is a dripper.
 4. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein said main body is closed at said entranceend and said exit end by a pair of end caps to form one assembled saidmain body.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein a plurality ofsaid main bodies is joined serially with at least one connector to forma serial assembly of said main bodies.
 6. The method according to claim1, wherein a plate is disposed on said top of said saddle that reduceswater loss from inside said main body and prevents collection of rainwater into said main body.
 7. The method according to claim 1, whereinsaid saddle connects to said main body at a port.
 8. A method,comprising: supplying a fluid to a main body with a top through adripper; maintaining said fluid at a pre-determined level in said mainbody with a top, an entrance end and an exit end by a drain pipe;feeding at least one plant with said fluid, said at least one plantdisposed on said main body in a saddle with a top that has a strainerthat is in contact with said pre-determined fluid level; and returningsaid fluid to a reservoir from said main body.
 9. The method accordingto claim 8, wherein said main body is closed at said entrance end andsaid exit end by a pair of end caps to form one assembled main body. 10.The method according to claim 8, wherein a plurality of said main bodiesis joined serially with at least one connector to form a serial assemblyof said main bodies.
 11. The method according to claim 8, wherein aplate is disposed on said top of said saddle to reduce water loss frominside said main body and prevents collection of rain water into saidmain body.
 12. The method according to claim 8, the saddle connects tosaid main body at a port.